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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Birding Reports & Tips 觀鳥報告及心得 >>  Any birding site nearby HK International Airport?
        
(Message started by: Forrest FONG on Feb 6^th, 2003, 8:08pm)

Title: Any birding site nearby HK International Airport?
Post by Forrest FONG on Feb 6^th, 2003, 8:08pm

??? Any suggestion to a birder from Netherlands, please:

Quoted:

I would have a stopover of 6 morning hours at Hong Kong international airport, would there be a possibility for some nice birding nearby?
I understand that this is at Lantau island, but there are no birding sites given for this island on the HK bird society web site.
A scenic walk with a broad range of passerines (end of February) would be nice. Something in the Tung Chung valley? And easily reached from the airport.

Any suggestion?
thanks,

John
----------------------------------------------------
John van der Woude, The Netherlands

Title: Re: Any birding site nearby HK International Airpo
Post by Mike Kilburn on Feb 7^th, 2003, 9:30am

Hi John

There are some good sites on Lantau and six hours is enough to make it worthwhile leaving the airport.

Perhaps the easiest would be to walk to or from the Big buddha at Ngong Ping. There are buses from Tung Chung Transport Interchange, or you can get a blue taxi (Red and Green taxis have no permit for Lantau) directly from the airport. It will cost around HK$180 to get up there and give you views over both sides of Lantau.

Once at the Buddha there is a path just to the left of the big steps up to the Buddha which goes past the Youth Hostel and down to Tung Chung - about a 2 hour walk and longer if your'e birding.

Good birds this winter have included Daurian Redstart, Japanese, Grey backed and Pale Thrushes, Chinese Blackbird (almost certain to be split) Red-flanked Bluetail, Chinese Bush Warbler, Dusky, Yellow-browed, Pallas Warblers and Chinese Grosbeak.

Resident birds include Chestnut, Chinese, and cresed Bulbuls, Hair-crested Drongo, Large-billed Crow, Masked Laughing thrush, Hwamei, Spotted and Oriental Turle Doves, Black-necked Starlings and Crested Mynah.

Possible raptors include Black Kite, Bonelli's Eagle Common Kestrel, Japanese Sparrowhawk, Besra and Cested Goshawk. I've also seen Crested Serpent Eagle here.

You can also find Upland Ppit and Large Grass Warbler on Sunset Peak.

Cheer s
Mike

Look in Tung Chung Bay for Reef Egret.